La Liga – Matchday 16Date: January 8, 2005Fixture: RCD Mallorca vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: Son Moix Stadium, Palma de MallorcaKickoff: 9:30 PMWeather: Overcast, 4°C, strong wind
The stadium wasn't full.
In fact, half the seats were empty — but that didn't stop the whistles. Or the elbows. Or the kicks. Because this wasn't just a match to Mallorca. This was a chance to chop down a rising legend. And they knew who he was now.
When the teams walked out onto the pitch, the wind howled low across the turf. The sky was steel gray. Flags on the corner posts shook in the gusts. And in the stands, a few hundred fans booed loudly — mostly just to rattle one name.
"Messi! Messi! Overrated!"
He didn't even look up.
Ronaldinho leaned in and said quietly, "They only boo the ones they fear."
Messi gave a half-smile, eyes still on the ball as he tied his laces.He was learning. Game by game. Crowd by crowd.Pressure was the new normal.
The opening whistle sounded like a gunshot.
From the first minute, it was clear: Mallorca weren't here to dance. They were here to scrap. Their midfielders pressed high, bodies flying into challenges. Messi was knocked down twice in the first six minutes. No fouls.
By the 10th minute, he had been clipped, shoved, and boxed in.
He adjusted. Started drifting deeper into midfield. Rijkaard had allowed him that freedom — and now it became his weapon.
He received a short pass from Xavi near the halfway line and quickly turned. One touch. Two steps. A third. He slipped between two defenders like smoke. The crowd gasped.
He threaded a perfect ball to Eto'o — a pass that split the defense in half. Eto'o struck low with his right foot, but the keeper's fingertips pushed it wide.
So close.
And yet, still 0–0.
In the 27th minute, Mallorca struck first.
Barcelona were caught too high up the pitch. A long clearance bounced over Marquez's head. The Mallorca striker pounced, ran clear, and tucked the ball past Valdés.
Goal. 1–0.
No celebration from the scorer. Just a cold look toward the bench.
The home fans erupted, whistling louder now. Whistling only for one boy in blue and red.
Messi picked up the ball at midfield and walked it back alone.
He didn't shout. Didn't look at the ref.He just placed the ball and whispered, "Again."
The rest of the half was a battle.
Ronaldinho was swarmed every time he got the ball. Xavi was marked tightly. And Messi — he was hacked, pressed, double-teamed.
But the more they kicked him, the harder he came back.
Late in the first half, he took the ball on the right wing, feinted inside, then exploded down the line. A Mallorca defender lunged — Messi cut back. Another tried to close — Messi nutmegged him. Now he was inside the box.
One man left. He slowed, froze the keeper, and tried to chip.
The ball kissed the top of the net and fell behind.
Gasps all around.
And even some applause.
"Messi nearly does it again!" cried the commentator."He's still only 17 — how is this possible?"
Halftime. Down 1–0. Cold wind in their faces. Tension in the locker room.
Rijkaard didn't shout. He simply wrote a word on the board: "Composure."
Then he looked at Messi.
"You're doing everything right. Keep going. They can't kick you forever."
Messi nodded. But inside, something was burning.Not anger.Purpose.
The second half began with a different fire.
Barcelona held possession. Iniesta and Deco dropped deeper. Xavi pushed forward. And Messi moved like a shadow, slipping between spaces, always offering, always pressing.
In the 58th minute, he finally broke through.
He picked up the ball near the edge of the box, surrounded by three. He slowed down time — one touch, a feint, a step between.
He slipped a shot low — between legs, under gloves.
GOAL. 1–1.
No celebration. Just a sharp look at the bench.Let's win this.
The goal gave Barça new life.
In the 71st minute, Ronaldinho flicked a ridiculous pass behind his back toward Messi, who was already sprinting. The two had started to move in rhythm now — not words, just instinct.
Messi danced between two defenders again, played a clever one-two with Deco, and darted into the box.
The keeper rushed out. Messi lifted it softly over his shoulder.
GOAL. 2–1. Barcelona.
This time, the celebration was real.Eto'o hugged him. Ronaldinho pointed to him. Rijkaard clapped slowly.
Two goals. Two reminders.He wasn't just a rising star now. He was Barcelona's difference-maker.
The final whistle came after a late Mallorca flurry — one last header pushed wide by Valdés.
Barcelona survived.
Still undefeated.
Still top.
And Messi — bruised, breathless, but standing tall — walked off quietly, avoiding the cameras, eyes already on the next.
Post-Match Interview (Brief)Reporter: "Leo, another match-winner. Two goals. Are you now Barcelona's most important player?"
Messi:(smiling shyly)
"No, no. I'm just one part of this team. Everyone worked hard today. Ronaldinho, Eto'o, the whole midfield. I'm happy to score — but we win together."
Reporter: "You were fouled 8 times today. How do you stay so calm?"
Messi:
"It's football. You play through it. I'm lucky to do what I love."
Reporter: "Any message for fans?"
Messi:
"Thank you. I'll keep working. That's all I know how to do."
Notebook Entry – January 8, 2005
Anto,I feel stronger. Not just my body. My mind too.They kicked me today. Over and over. But I stayed standing. Kept moving. I didn't lash out.Just played. Just focused.And the ball listened.— Leo
La Liga Standings After Matchday 16
Barcelona – 45 pts – 15W / 0L / 3D
Real Madrid – 42 pts – 13W / 2L / 3D
Valencia – 39 pts
Villarreal – 36 pts